Seven Winnipeg Blue Bombers players were named to the CFL’s West Division all-star team Wednesday, including three members of the offensive line. Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Taylor Loffler (16), linebacker Adam Bighill (4) and defensive back Anthony Gaitor (23) bring down Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Diontae Spencer during first half CFL football action in Ottawa on Friday, October 5, 2018.
The Calgary Stampeders will play in the Grey Cup game a third straight year after downing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22-14 in Sunday’s CFL West Division final.
Eric Rogers led the Stampeders with three touchdown catches, including a 10-yard leaping grab late in the fourth quarter.
Grey Cup Festival ticket sales heat up in Edmonton: ‘We’re about 75% sold’
Ottawa will attempt to win its second Grey Cup in three years after beating the Stampeders in the championship game two years ago. Calgary’s third consecutive appearance in the Grey Cup game is a franchise record. The Stampeders were favored to win the 2017 and 2016 Grey Cups but lost to Toronto and Ottawa respectively.
The Stampeders won the Grey Cup in 2014.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers starter Matt Nichols was 15-for-32 in passing for 156 yards.
The Blue Bombers finished third in the West at 10-8. Winnipeg was 5-7 after its Labour Day home-and-home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and went 6-1 en route to Sunday’s division final.
Winnipeg beat the Roughriders 23-18 in Regina in the division semifinal.
Sunday’s second half was largely devoid of offense until six minutes left in the game.
Mitchell’s 21-yard pass to Richie Sindani, followed by an 18-yard Don Jackson run and a 15-yard catch from Lemar Durant put the hosts in scoring range for Mitchell’s touchdown throw to Rogers.
After Medlock’s fourth field goal of the game, the Bombers attempted to recover an onside kick with 38 seconds remaining in the game. Stampeders middle linebacker Alex Singleton emerged with the ball, however. The visitors trailed 14-11 after Medlock’s 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter.
Jackson’s fumble on Calgary’s first drive of the second half was recovered by Winnipeg’s Taylor Loffler at the Stampeders 46-yard line.
Winnipeg ended up punting, but pinned Calgary’s offense deep and eked a two-point safety to trail by six points.
Mitchell threw a pair of touchdown catches to Rogers in the second quarter for a 14-6 Calgary lead at halftime.
But a holding penalty by Stampeders defensive back Ciante Evans negated a Tunde Adeleke punt return to Winnipeg’s end zone late in the quarter.
Mitchell found Rogers in Winnipeg’s end zone with an eight-yard touchdown throw at 13:09.
Calgary’s offense marched 92 yards capped by Mitchell’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Rogers for a 7-6 lead at 10:32. That drive took eight minutes four seconds off the clock.
A Romar Morris catches and runs to Winnipeg’s one-yard line was called back because of a Chris Matthews pass interference call during that drive. Calgary lost a challenge on the call to sacrifice a timeout.
Rene Paredes was wide left on a 45-yard field goal attempt midway through the opening quarter.
Kevin Fogg ran the ball out to Winnipeg’s 40-yard line and Medlock capped the drive with a 36-yard boot to make it 6-0 for the Blue Bombers.
On Winnipeg’s second possession of the game, Medlock kicked a wind-aided 57-yard field goal to open the scoring.
106th GREY CUP will begin next week. The next game is scheduled for Monday, November 26th, Calgary Stampeders vs Ottawa Redblacks, the game starts at 1:00 AM EET.